EVENT: Women's Leadership Institute at OU
DATE: May 20-24
Undergraduate women who are from Oklahoma or attending Oklahoma colleges and universities are invited to apply for admission to the fourth National Education for Women’s Leadership Institute, a five-day summer leadership program designed to encourage women to consider careers in politics and public service. The annual institute, which is free, will be held May 20 through 24 on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus.
Sponsored by OU’s Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, the program is part of a national training network designed to educate, inspire and empower women to become political leaders. The network originated at the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University. The N.E.W. Leadership Institute, which was recognized by the Journal Record in 2002, 2003 and 2004 as a “program making a difference,” seeks to address the historical under-representation of women in every area of government.
“Participants in the Leadership Institute gain skills in community organizing, public speaking, leadership, team building, negotiation and conflict resolution,” said Cindy Simon Rosenthal, N.E.W. Leadership program director. “They also will meet women from Oklahoma who are office holders, public administrators and local activists, as well as spending time at the state capitol and attending a reception honoring women in government.”
The United States ranks 59th out of 181 democracies in the world in terms of the percentage of women in the national legislature, and Oklahoma is 47th in the nation in the percentage of women serving in the state legislature. In addition, less than one in five Oklahoma mayors are women and the state has never had a woman serve as governor or U.S. senator.
“Our program seeks to change the situation as it has historically been in Oklahoma by providing women the opportunity to meet and network with others who share their interest in politics and public service,” Rosenthal said. Past presenters at the institute include Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Oklahoma Commerce Secretary Kathy Taylor, Secretary of State Susan Savage, State Sen. Angela Monson, and Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode.
Participants in previous Leadership Institutes, who come from more than 30 communities and 26 universities across the state, have gone on to hold a wide number of positions: Laura Beth Wren interned with first lady Laura Bush before going to work for Beverly LaHaye’s Concerned Women of America in Washington D.C.; Leslie Blair is assistant to Secretary of Commerce and Tourism Kathy Taylor; Leslie Thomas works for the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women; and Victoria Bryan Middleton is writing for the Eastern Oklahoma County News. Other program graduates have interned with Congressman John Sullivan, State Rep. James Covey, the Oklahoma State Senate and League of Women Voters of Oklahoma.
Approximately 35 undergraduate women representing a variety of backgrounds, college majors and student classifications will be selected to participate in this year’s program. Students interested in politics and leadership are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 11. Applications and additional program information are available online at www.ou.edu/special/albertctr/NLO/.
Contact: Hannah Brenner or Chris Morris, (405) 325-6372, hbrenner@ou.edu or chrismorris@ou.edu